System and method for communicating low data rate information with a radar system

Abstract

A method is disclosed for transmitting low data rate symbols from a communications terminal to a burst radar transceiver. A plurality of bursts can be emitted from a burst radar transceiver, each burst having a burst interval and separated by an inter-burst interval. A symbol can be transmitted from the communications terminal to the burst radar transceiver. The symbol has a symbol period that is substantially longer than a radar transceiver burst period comprising the burst interval and the inter-burst interval. Symbol energy can be accumulated during inter-burst intervals at the burst radar transceiver over a plurality of burst periods for approximately the symbol period.

1. A method for receiving low data rate symbols, the symbols having information encoded therein, the symbols being received at a burst radar transceiver having a burst period including a burst interval and an inter-burst interval, comprising:
 accepting the symbol sections at the burst radar transceiver; 
 blanking a radar receiver during the burst interval to reduce interference between a radar transmitter and a radar receiver in the burst radar transceiver; 
 accumulating symbol energy at the burst radar transceiver during inter-burst intervals over a plurality of burst periods for approximately a symbol period of the low data rate symbols; and 
 identifying the information in the symbol based on a characteristic of the accumulated symbol energy. 
 
   
   
     2. A system for transmitting low data rate symbols to a burst radar transceiver having a burst period including a burst interval and an inter-burst interval, comprising:
 a communications terminal configured to transmit a plurality of symbols to the burst radar transceiver, wherein each symbol has a symbol transmission period that is substantially longer than the radar transceiver burst period; 
 a blanking device coupled to the burst radar transceiver configured to substantially attenuate a received signal during the burst radar transceiver burst interval; and 
 an integrating device configured to accumulate symbol energy at the burst radar transceiver over a plurality of burst periods during inter-burst intervals. 
 
   
   
     3. A system as in  claim 2 , wherein the communications terminal includes a transmitter and a receiver. 
   
   
     4. A system as in  claim 2 , wherein the burst radar transceiver includes a transmitter and a receiver. 
   
   
     5. A system as in  claim 4 , wherein the blanking device is configured to attenuate a signal to the receiver using at least one of a physical switch and an electronic switch. 
   
   
     6. A system as in  claim 4 , wherein the blanking device is configured to substantially eliminate digital data received during a burst interval. 
   
   
     7. A system as in  claim 4 , wherein the receiver is configured to identify information in the symbol based on a characteristic of the accumulated symbol energy. 
   
   
     8. A system as in  claim 4 , further comprising a phase memory configured to enable the receiver to ensure, at an end of a first burst period of the received signal, a correct phase at a beginning of a second burst period separated from the first burst period by the inter-burst interval. 
   
   
     9. A system as in  claim 2 , wherein the symbol period is greater than one burst period. 
   
   
     10. A system as in  claim 2 , wherein the symbol period is greater than ten burst periods. 
   
   
     11. A system as in  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of symbols are encoded using forward error correction coding.